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1 Sanctuary Not Deportation: A Faithful Witness to Building Welcoming Communities You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” - Psalm 91:1-2 As the faith community, we are called to accompany our community members, congregants and neighbors facing deportation. Table of Contents Sanctuary Movement and the Immigrants’ Rights Movement….Page 2 What is Sanctuary?...............................................................................................Page 2-3 An Ancient Tradition of Faith Communities/ The Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s / Sacred Texts / Current Day Sanctuary Movement Executive Actions on Immigration……………………………………………Page 4 Central American Humanitarian Crisis……………………………………Page 4 Goals and Strategy……………………………………………………………………Page 4 Talking Points and Messaging …………………………………………………Page 4-5 Who is Seeking Sanctuary?.......................................................................Page 5 How do we “Declare Sanctuary?”……………………………………………..Page 6-7 Joint Public Declaration of Sanctuary Advocacy…………………………………………………………………………………..Page 7 Leadership of those in Sanctuary……………………………………………..Page 7 Deportation Defense/What are the logistics of Sanctuary?.........Page 8-9 Living Arrangements/ Legal Questions / Community Support/ Training other Congregations Communications……………………………………………………………………….Page 9-12 Sample Press Advisory / Sample Op-Ed / Social Media
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Sanctuary Not Deportation: A Faithful Witness to Building ... · In the summer of 2014, an increase of children and families fleeing gang violence in Central America’s Northern

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Page 1: Sanctuary Not Deportation: A Faithful Witness to Building ... · In the summer of 2014, an increase of children and families fleeing gang violence in Central America’s Northern

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Sanctuary Not Deportation:

A Faithful Witness to Building Welcoming Communities

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord,

“My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.”

- Psalm 91:1-2

As the faith community, we are called to accompany our community members,

congregants and neighbors facing deportation.

Table of Contents

Sanctuary Movement and the Immigrants’ Rights Movement….Page 2

What is Sanctuary?...............................................................................................Page 2-3

An Ancient Tradition of Faith Communities/ The Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s /

Sacred Texts / Current Day Sanctuary Movement

Executive Actions on Immigration……………………………………………Page 4

Central American Humanitarian Crisis……………………………………Page 4

Goals and Strategy……………………………………………………………………Page 4

Talking Points and Messaging …………………………………………………Page 4-5

Who is Seeking Sanctuary?.......................................................................Page 5

How do we “Declare Sanctuary?”……………………………………………..Page 6-7 Joint Public Declaration of Sanctuary

Advocacy…………………………………………………………………………………..Page 7

Leadership of those in Sanctuary……………………………………………..Page 7

Deportation Defense/What are the logistics of Sanctuary?.........Page 8-9

Living Arrangements/ Legal Questions / Community Support/ Training other Congregations

Communications……………………………………………………………………….Page 9-12 Sample Press Advisory / Sample Op-Ed / Social Media

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Sanctuary Movements and the Immigrants’ Rights Movement

People of faith from all traditions called on Congress to pass immigration reform, yet Congress failed to move

forward on meaningful legislation. Meanwhile, the deportation machinery became more advanced under the

Obama Administration, with an alarming rate of more than 1,100 people being deported every day, totaling nearly

2.5 million deportations under this administration. The organizing efforts of undocumented youth in 2012 pushed

the administration to create the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which has allowed close

to a million DREAMers to travel and work legally.

In 2014 a resurgence of the Sanctuary Movement began out of need in the community to stop deportations at a

case-by-case level. In May of 2014 Daniel Neyoy Ruiz took Sanctuary in Southside Presbyterian Church in Tucson,

Arizona, the same church that helped nearly fifteen thousand political refugees escape the tragic civil wars in

Central America during the 1980s. Daniel won a stay of removal after 27 days of living in Sanctuary. The story

spread through the media at a time when President Obama was delaying Executive Actions on immigration and

more immigrants facing deportation invited congregations in their region to offer refuge and join the fight to

keep their families together. Over the next year, more than a dozen people came forward to take refuge in

Sanctuary and the majority were able to win a stay of removal or an order of supervision. Immigration and

Customs Enforcement (ICE) delayed justice on many occasions. Rosa Robles-Loreto found victory after 461 days of

living in Sanctuary. Some left churches with a written promise from ICE that they would not be deported. All

continue to fight their case to gain permanent relief from deportation.

This resurgence of the Sanctuary Movement has created a platform to raise up the moral witness of people of faith,

while at the same time lifting up the prophetic stories of immigrant leaders who are brave enough to speak out

against the injustice of deportation. Our Movement contributed to significantly increased public pressure on the

Obama Administration to announce the President’s Executive Action on Immigration on November 20th, 2014

(Deferred Action for Parents of Americans or DAPA).

The Sanctuary Movement acted quickly in a pivotal moment,responding to a reported plan that the Obama

administration will start targeting asylum seekers from Central America for deportation if they have been issued a

final deportation order since January 1, 2014. These families are fleeing intense violence and persecution and if

they’re deported they could very likely meet death upon their return. Many have faced immigration court to

present their case without legal representation or through mass trials termed “rocket-dockets” in a mockery of our

justice system. The Administration believes targeting them for deportation will prevent others from coming, but

we know from experience, such as in the 1980s, that no harsh policy can deter people fleeing for their very lives.

As people of faith, we have a moral responsibility to act. Along with partner organizations, people of faith have

been advocating to stop individual deportations in our communities. Sanctuary escalates and amplifies these

efforts by responding to our neighbors who face deportation orders with safe refuge and sanctuary in our

congregations.

What is Sanctuary?

An Ancient Tradition of Faith Communities

Sanctuary is one of the most ancient traditions that we have as a people of faith. The ancient Hebrew people

allowed temples and even whole cities to declare themselves places of refuge for persons accused of a crime, a

practice that allowed those wrongfully accused or facing unjust punishment to escape swift and harsh retribution

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until the matter could be resolved. In the late Roman Empire fugitives could find refuge in the precincts of Christian

churches. Later during the medieval period, churches in England were recognized sanctuaries, offering safe haven

for a temporary period to accused wrong doers. In the United States the first practical provision of anything like

sanctuary occurred in the years before the Civil War. The Underground Railroad came into being to help slaves flee

the South and find safety in many congregations throughout the country. In the early 1970’s faith communities

opened their doors to conscientious objectors who’d been drafted to the Vietnam war.

The Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s

When refugees from the Civil Wars in Central America began to flee to the United States in the late 1970’s, the U.S.

government did not recognize them as political refugees seeking asylum. Many were deported and received by

death squads, and murdered upon their return. From this dire injustice, the Sanctuary Movement was born. It

peaked with over 500 congregations establishing an underground railroad whereby asylum seekers moved

through the United States to safe houses and safe congregations in Canada. Sixteen clergy and lay leaders in the

Tucson area were indicted. Eight of them were convicted but served no time. for their involvement in assisting

Central American refugees. The Sanctuary Movement sought to remind the United States government of our core

values and hold up the truth, that the US was directly supporting with arms, money and training the dictatorships

and death squads of Central America. The Sanctuary Momvement won the inclusion of Central Americans in our

asylum laws as part of the 1986 immigration reform law. It is because of courageous truth tellers from Central

America and the Sanctuary Movement who followed them that Central Americans today can claim asylum.

The Public Sanctuary Movement: An Historical Basis of Hope by Eileen Purcell

Sacred Texts

● God calls people of faith to remember that they once were strangers in a strange land and they must, must

welcome the stranger as an expression of covenant faithfulness (Leviticus 19:33-34)

● We must “learn to do good, seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isaiah

1:17)

● We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27)

● Parable of the Good Samaritan, a foreigner from a different sect saves the victim on the roadside (Luke 10:25-

37)

● Book of Ruth, the story of a foreign woman heroine who fulfilling God’s purpose. We remember the famous

words of Naomi to Ruth on the road from Moab to the land of Judah, "Where you go I will go; where you lodge, I

will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God" (Ruth 1:16)

Current Day Sanctuary Movement

Drawing on this tradition, communities of faith have once again seen the need to declare Sanctuary for immigrants

as the rise of deportations continues to separate families. In the 1980’s we were compelled by the call to welcome

the stranger, as we opened our doors to newly arriving refugees. Now we are moved by the call to love our

neighbors as ourselves, as those who are entering into Sanctuary are most often long term members of our

communities - our neighbors.

In 2007, an initiative known as the New Sanctuary Movement took shape with coalitions of congregations in major

cities throughout the country. As workplace and neighborhood raids escalated, these congregations opened their

doors to provide refuge to those facing deportation. See NSM toolkit here (http://imirj.org/new-sanctuary-

movement-toolkit-for-congregations/).

Last year, by citing the Morton Memo and Prosecutorial Discretion in 2011 and President Obama’s Executive

Actions on Immigration in 2014, we stopped thousands of deportations through case-by-case advocacy. Those

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entering sanctuary are eligible for Prosecutorial Discretion, but local ICE field offices have been very reluctant to

offer this relief from deportations in which the community has had to engage in public advocacy to win stays of

removal or an order of supervision and in most cases. There is a substantial gap between the guidelines for

priorities of prosecutorial discretion defined by the President’s Executive Actions and the implementation of those

guidelines.

Now, with the administration’s recent announcement about targeting Central American children and families

through raids, Sanctuary can be utilized as a way to protect Central American children and families from being

deported back to violence and persecution.

Executive Actions on Immigration

After countless actions, vigils, prayer services and even civil disobedience as a prophetic witness the Obama

Administration set forth the Executive Actions on Immigration on November 20th, 2014 that could benefit 5 million

undocumented people. This was a huge victory for the immigrants’ rights movement. As expected, our opponents

hit back hard, attempting to move legislation against Executive Action (which failed to pass) and 26 Governors and

Attorneys General filed a lawsuit in Texas. The judges ruled according to partisan lines and enjoined the Executive

Actions that would have created the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA) and expanded the Deferred

Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programs. The case was appealed to the 5th Circuit Court which kept the

injunction in place and is now being appealed to the Supreme Court.

● New guidelines for Prosecutorial Discretion

● Expansion of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA+)

● Deferred Action for Parents of Americans (DAPA)

Central American Humanitarian Crisis

In the summer of 2014, an increase of children and families fleeing gang violence in Central America’s Northern

Triangle began presenting themselves at the U.S.- Mexico border seeking asylum. Some of these children and

families have lost their asylum cases because they were unable to find legal counsel or due to “rocket dockets” that

are meant to expedite trials but in reality deny due process. These children and families should have the

opportunity to appeal their case with adequate representation.

In 2015, 235,413 people were deported, a decrease from the 2012 all-time high of 409, 849. However, the Obama

administration seems to have made the political calculation they need to get their quotas up and have chosen to

target Central American asylum-seeking families for deportation. This is why Sanctuary is particularly important to

lift up the stories of the families and provide safe refuge from deportation.

Sanctuary Goals and Strategy

Immediate Local Goal: As the faith community, we are called to accompany our community members, congregants

and neighbors facing deportation. By offering sanctuary, we can fight individual cases, advocate to stop

deportations, and win deferred action on a case-by-case level to keep families together.

The National Goal: Amplify the moral imperative to stop deportations by lifting up the stories of sanctuary cases

and ensuring the prophetic witness of the immigrant taking sanctuary is heard at the national level.

By joining the Sanctuary Movement, congregations and people of faith can:

Influence the administration to stop their plan to target and deport Central American families seeking asylum and

to stop family detention all together.

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Contribute to the advocacy strategy with Immigration Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland

Security officials to improve the implementation of prosecutorial discretion guidelines and thereby reduce

deportations.

Highlight the stories of those in Sanctuary to push back against unjust enforcement policies such as the Priority

Enforcement Program or 287g.

Continue to pressure elected officials to create a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants who are in

the United States and provide a viable immigration system for new arrivals.

Talking Points/ Messaging

General Talking Points:

As the faith community, we are doing what Congress has refused to do: protect immigrants from an immigration

system that is separating families and deporting people who are woven into the fabric of their communities and

congregations.

We are witnessing the rebirth of the sanctuary movement in the United States. We are seeing a widespread and

growing commitment by faith communities to provide sanctuary to moms and dads and others in need of

protection. (See updated numbers here)

With DACA and DAPA being held up in courts for over a year, millions of people who should be eligible for deferred

action are still living in fear of deportation. We are praying that the Supreme Court judge this case with wisdom

and compassion, and make the moral and just decision to affirm the constitutionality of these Executive Actions.

Our congregations open their doors to provide sanctuary. We stand in solidarity with immigrant leaders fighting

to keep all families together, regardless of immigration status.

The Obama administration should not be targeting Central Americans families for deportation, but should instead

utilize their resources towards providing legal representation to those who have been unable to attain assistance

as they seek asylum.

We are seeing gaps in the implementation process of prosecutorial discretion guidelines and ask Immigration and

Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security to exercise and live up to their mandate and stop

deporting our undocumented community members who contribute so much to our congregations, communities

and country.

Detention and deportation have become money-making businesses that feed the prison industrial complex and line

the pockets of private corporations with billions of dollars.

We are praying for the Supreme Court to judge with discernment, compassion and morality with the

understanding that DACA and DAPA are constitutional and will benefit some of the most marginalized immigrants

in our country by providing them the opportunity to work, have a driver’s license and contribute further to our

communities.

Talking Points for Specific Sanctuary Cases:

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As people of faith, we are called to welcome the sojourner and love our neighbor. In the case of INSERT NAME,

he/she has been part of our community for a long time. He/she is not a stranger but our neighbor and we are

accompanying them as they stand up for their right to stay united with their family.

INSERT NAMES want to make sure their family stays together and that INSERT NAME does not become one of the

hundreds of people unnecessarily deported each day.

One of our key belief statements as the DENOMINATION is: INSERT STATEMENT. As in the tradition of the

prophets and apostles, God calls the church to speak truth to power, liberate the oppressed, care for the poor and

comfort the afflicted. We are responsible to a higher calling, a higher law, that takes precedent over our flawed and

outdated immigration laws.

The church has been a space of sanctuary for those wrongly persecuted for thousands of years. The ability to

provide humanitarian sanctuary defines who we are and our call as people of faith to care for the most vulnerable

among us.

We witnessed the power of the Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s. The church was able to protect Central

Americans from being deported and returned to death squads in the Civil Wars they faced at home, which the

United States refused to recognize. Thousands upon thousands of lives were spared because of the Sanctuary

Movement.

Now in the midst of our broken immigration system, faith communities once again must demonstrate leadership

and action to keep families together, to keep parents with their children, to protect our brothers and sisters like

INSERT NAME, to demand the Obama Administration stop the deportations of Central American families seeking

asylum.

We are asking Secretary Jeh Johnson and President Obama to provide relief from deportation for INSERT NAME

today.

As people of faith, we are called to be a community that forgives one another, if someone has had a past criminal

offense and has dealt with their debt to society and moved forward, they should not be separated from their family

and their community in which they’re an integral part.

Who are those seeking Sanctuary?

Most Sanctuary cases begin when a lawyer or legal service clinic identifies someone who has been working to stop

their deportation order without success. The legal service team assesses whether someone may be eligible for

prosecutorial discretion. Those who enter into Sanctuary should have a reasonable potential of receiving a stay of

removal, order of supervision or some other form of administrative relief. The legal service team then consults

with Sanctuary organizers and involved pastor to begin a conversation about a potential Sanctuary case. Ideally

this happens months in advance, but sometimes the individual comes to a legal clinic or local organizers in the 11th

hour, requiring a congregation to act quickly. Each case is different, sometimes often there is a family linked that

would be separated, but not always.

How do we “Declare Sanctuary?”

The public aspect of the Declaration of Sanctuary is critical. It is by bringing attention to the case, mobilizing the

community, and advocating for the individual that we are able to successfully get cases closed. We encourage every

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community of faith to enter into a time of prayer and discernment so that when cases arise, they are ready to act.

Once a congregation has made the decision to declare Sanctuary for an individual, it is publicly announced at a

press conference and prayer vigil, at which time the individual and their family enters into the premises of the

house of worship. The individual in need of Sanctuary remains at the house of worship until they are granted a stay

of deportation. Of course, an individual may decide at any time to leave Sanctuary for any reason and should have

the full support of the community to do so. Living within Sanctuary is not an easy thing; the financial cost of not

working, the media attention, the strain on a family can all be burdensome.

There has been liturgy developed by Southside Presbyterian Church and Shadow Rock UCC in Phoenix that can be

adapted for a prayer vigil declaring Sanctuary, but individual congregations should develop liturgy that is

appropriate to their own religious background and setting. (NEED LINK HERE)

Advocacy

One of the most important aspects to Sanctuary is the advocacy that we do on behalf of an individual. In

partnership with legal service providers and immigrants’ rights organizers a strategy is developed and a multitude

of different people are identified as the focus of our efforts, like Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh

Johnson and President Obama. They and other members of the administration are the focus of phone calls and

letter writing. There is also a great deal of work organizing a broad base of support for the individual as well as

finding key allies. Often the City Council and the Board of Supervisors, as well as local religious leaders, are

approached to use their power and influence to get the individual’s case closed. We are always working to get

more letters of support, more petitions signed, phone calls dialed in and more congregations working with us. We

have developed relationships with key allies in Washington, DC and partnerships with national organizations who

have worked closely with us on cases. Having an effective media plan is extremely important in garnering the type

of attention needed to sway decision makers to close the deportation case.

Sample Petitions:

http://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/tell-the-obama-administration-save-rosa-from-being-deported

http://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/tell-the-obama-administration-stop-luis-from-being-deported-

keep-your-promise

Sample Letter of Support from Good Shepherd United Church of Christ

www.uccfiles.com/pdf/8-24-14-GoodShepherdUCC-Sanctuary-letter-University-Presbyterian.pdf

Work to get Denominational Support: United Church of Christ News on Denver Sanctuary Coalition

www.ucc.org/news/colorado-ucc-joins-sanctuary-coalition-09102014.html

www.pcusa.org/news/2014/9/17/letter-president-support-sanctuary-and-hope/

Leadership of those in Sanctuary

This is perhaps the most important aspect of Sanctuary; we are not the leaders of this movement, those in

Sanctuary are. It has been the courage and the faith of those who have come out of the shadows to say, “we are

undocumented and we are unafraid” that has inspired our work. Those taking Sanctuary are putting everything on

the line and are often risking a great deal for the benefit of the larger movement; their leadership, their voice, their

opinions and wisdom should be prioritized at all times. They should be involved in every aspect of the campaign as

they choose to be. Sanctuary is hard work and requires great sacrifice - if at any time a family wishes to leave

Sanctuary, their wishes should be respected and celebrated. We should always remember that Sanctuary is not

something that we do for our undocumented brothers and sisters, it is something we do with them.

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Deportation Defense

As we prepare for increased raids targeting Central American families, it is important that allies accompany

impacted immigrant communities in knowing their rights and preparing a protection network to try stop people

from being apprehended. It will also be important for people who are deported to document their experiences.

This can help inform the public about the realities faced by individuals who are deported and build opposition

against raids and deportation.

AFSC- Know Your Rights- Conozca Sus Derechos

United We DREAM Know Your Rights

Guide to sharing your story of rights abuses, raids and deportation

What are the logistics of Sanctuary?

Living Arrangements

Ideally, the family will have space on the grounds of the house of worship that will not be used for any other

purpose for the duration of their time in Sanctuary. They should be encouraged to arrange the room in whatever

way they would like and to make it as much like home as they can. Easy access to showers, bathrooms, and a

kitchen should be considered in designating a space for the family (sometimes showers will need to be configured

in some way for those locations without permanent showers). Because the entire purpose of declaring Sanctuary is

to keep a family together, the entire family is invited to stay at the house of worship. While the individual living in

Sanctuary does not leave the premises, the family comes and goes as they choose. At times the family can become

overwhelmed by visitors and media. They should be encouraged to establish whatever boundaries they need. It is

the practice of immigration officials and law enforcement agencies to respect the sanctity of houses of worship by

not coming on their property for the purpose of apprehending an individual who has an order of deportation.

Legal Questions

Everyone always wants to know - are we breaking the law? Law is a lot like scripture - its up to your interpretation.

There is a law against bringing in and harboring persons not authorized to be in the U.S. (insert footnote. INA

Sec.274) While we are clearly not bringing people in, whether we are harboring someone is up for interpretation.

Some courts have interpreted harboring to require concealment of a person. When we declare Sanctuary for an

individual we are bringing them into the light of the community, not concealing them in the dark of secrecy. (insert

footnote. U.S. V Costello, 66 F.3d 1040 (7th Cir. 2012)) Other courts have interpreted harboring to be simple

sheltering. (insert footnote. U.S. V Acosta de Evans, 531 F.2d 428 (9th Cir. 1976))

Those who are entering sanctuary will most likely have an opportunity to win relief from deportation, this means

that they are not a high priority for deportation and that ICE can and should grant them prosecutorial discretion. In

essence, the Sanctuary Movement is holding the administration accountable to their own standards and guidelines

as put forth by the President’s Executive Actions.

New guidelines for Prosecutorial Discretion

ICE Sensitive Locations

The space of sanctuary is sacred. Immigration officials know that if they went into a house of worship to arrest a

pastor they would have a public relations nightmare on their hands. To date no one has ever been arrested for

offering Sanctuary.

New Sanctuary Movement Legal Toolkit http://lynnhopkinsgroup.com/Toolkit1.pdf

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Insurance Questions

The General Liability Insurance that all churches carry should cover any mishaps that could occur while someone

is living in Sanctuary. We have never had any incidents wherein a congregation had to make an insurance claim;

however, if you would like to talk with your insurance company first please do as part of your research and

preparation.

Community Support

Families living in Sanctuary are often in need of support in a multitude of different ways. Most importantly, they

need the support of our friendship - so plan game nights, hang out with them, do what you can to make them feel at

home and a part of your congregational family. It is also important that they are able to retain some normalcy as a

family - this can often be done by helping set them up to cook for themselves. You may find that congregation

members will want to show their love and support by bringing food, which may be helpful a few nights a week, but

it is important that the family is able to care for themselves and control as much as possible in a situation that is

very much out of their control. Instead of bringing meals, encourage people to bring food that they can cook with.

There may also be the need for financial support, particularly if the individual in Sanctuary normally works. People

should be encouraged to give to the family, either directly or through the house of worship (these donations to

benefit an individual are not tax deductible). Care should be taken to respect the pride of the family in these

situations. It is difficult for all of us to be in a situation where we have to depend on others. We have often

reminded individuals that by being in Sanctuary, they are engaged in hard work, both for their families but also for

the movement and that work should be compensated.

Training other Congregations

Instead of only one or two congregations taking on the work of Sanctuary, it is important that other congregations

also show support. Coalition congregations join together in advocacy efforts, joint sign-on letters, logistical

support, vigils and cooking. Having other congregations engaged creates training opportunities for leadership from

other congregations to become accustomed to the work of Sanctuary, an experience they can bring back to their

congregation as they prepare themselves for a future opportunity of offering Sanctuary.

Communications

It is important that we use common messaging so that we can influence and push forward a national narrative on

Sanctuary and the urgency for the Administration to stop deportations.

Sample Press Advisory

September 9, 2014

Contact: XXXX

Phone

Email

Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition Formation

Five congregations join immigrant community members in declaring Sanctuary

Rev. Mike Morran invites all faith communities to join the coalition saying “Because each of our traditions value

love, justice, and dignity, we extend this invitation to all Metro Denver faith communities to join in forming a

broad multi-ethnic and interfaith coalition assuring sanctuary for immigrant members of our communities.

Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a host or support congregation.”

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“As President Obama and congress continue to delay addressing the very immigration policies’ that damage

our communities, we feel particularly called to publicly declare our commitment. We dare to do what they have

not yet done, to stand with our immigrant brothers and sisters, to declare their human dignity and recognize the

sacredness of their contributions as members of our communities” added Rev. Anne Dunlap of Chadash

Community, United Church of Christ.

WHEN: WEDNESDAY, September 10, 3:00PM

WHERE: First Unitarian Society of Denver, 1400 Lafayette St., Denver, CO 80218

WHAT: Press conference declaring the formation of the Metro Denver Sanctuary Coalition

Statements from Rev. Anne Dunlap, Chadash Community and Rev. Mike Morran, First

Unitarian Society of Denver

Street theater from immigrant families in deportation

Members of five congregations joined together in song

WHO: American Friends Service Committee, Chadash Community United Church of Christ, First Unitarian

Society of Denver, Mountain View Friends Meeting, Boulder Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and the

Immigration Justice Task Force of the First Universalist Church of Denver

DIRECTIONS: Weather permitting we will gather on the Southeast corner of Lafayette and 14th Ave. If it rains

we will move inside the church.

WEB SITE: http://www.afsc.org/office/denver-co

###

Sample Press Release

December 25th, 2015

For Immediate Release

Press Contact: xxxx

On Christmas Day Faith Leaders Offer their Churches

as Sanctuary to Those Hunted in Raids

We Open Our Doors to Today's Josephs and Marys Despite ICE's Plan to Deport them

Sanctuary Movement leaders who have offered their congregations as spaces of refuge for immigrants facing

deportation are outraged by the news that Immigration Customs and Enforcement and the Department of

Homeland security plans to conduct raids targeting families who have fled violence and persecution in Central

America.

Faith leaders from many traditions remind our decision makers that the story of Christmas is about a prophet

and savior born in a stable and a refugee family that fled the political violence that could have killed Jesus as a

baby.

In defiance of a court order to stop detaining children, the Obama administration has increased the detention of

families by 173% over the last several months according to the Migration Policy Institute. And now the

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administration has announced it will search for and deport asylum seeking families to the danger they are

seeking to escape.

In the spirit of Christmas, faith leaders are declaring they are ready to once again open their doors to provide

refuge for immigrants facing deportation and unjust targeting from ICE.

“As pastors we know that each and every family is a holy family and the individuals and families who have fled

violence don’t just need our prayers, they need sanctuary,” explains Rev. Alison Harrington of Southside

Presbyterian Church in Tucson Arizona. “We open our doors to today's Josephs and Marys despite ICE’s

plans to deport them.

When we heard that the Obama administration is beginning plans to round up Central American families and

deport them back to the violence they have been fleeing, we couldn’t help but imagine what would it have been

like if the President was pharaoh in Egypt at the time of Jesus’ birth when he and his family had to run from the

death squads of Herod. What if he had ordered the deportation of the Holy Family?"

Rev. Adan Mairena of West Kensington Ministry, Philadelphia, PA added, "Our elected officials cannot say

‘God bless America’ and at the same time deport, exclude, dehumanize, and criminalize those who come

seeking refuge, in this case God's children from Central America. They are those whom Jesus called ‘the least

of these.’ If we continue to go down this road of moral decay the consequences will be grave.

As a Christian I stand on the side of divine law and cannot remain silent as our elected leaders give into the

darkness that works to divide God's family as opposed to uniting it. I, and others like me, will continue to put

our faith into action no matter what."

Rev. Chris Jimmerson from First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin where they recently offered

sanctuary to Sulma Franco contributing his reflection, “‘Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for

thereby some have entertained angels unawares.’ (Hebrews 13: 2). The Christian Bible, indeed the sacred

texts of most all of the world’s religions are filled with admonitions such as this to treat strangers among us with

love and hospitality. Yet, ICE continues to detain entire families, including children, who have fled persecution,

trauma and threats against their very lives, re-traumatizing them and threatening to deport them to the very

places where their lives will again be threatened. Our immigration courts continue to deny asylum to folks who

clearly do have a well-founded fear of persecution and if returned to their country of origin could face fatal

consequences.

As a Unitarian Universalist minister, I stand on the side of love, called by the world’s great faith and wisdom

traditions to decry ICE’s new plans to detain and deport even more Central American families. Our faith calls

upon us to do just the opposite – to offer refuge and support, compassion and hospitality to to these women,

men and children. This is our only morally justifiable action.”

###

Sample Op-Eds

The Story of Daniel in the Hill

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/civil-rights/208125-the-story-of-daniel

Protecting One Dad from Broken Immigration System

www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2014/06/29/immigration-system-broken/11726553/

Page 12: Sanctuary Not Deportation: A Faithful Witness to Building ... · In the summer of 2014, an increase of children and families fleeing gang violence in Central America’s Northern

12

Social Media

If all the organizations involved expand our social media work, our outreach to the public is larger. When we are

able to garner traditional media, we must make sure to push it out through social media. Hash tags allow you to

enter a forum of everyone else using the same hashtag, this amplifies the impact of the twitter post. Examples

include #not1more #allin4relief #allinfor11million #keepyourpromise #letrosastay #timeisnow.

Tweeting @ an organization or a law maker is helpful to pressure decision makers and to invite other

organizations to retweet your comment. Allies include @GroundswellMvmt @CWS_IRP @bend_thearc. Decision

makers include @BarackObama @WhiteHouse @DHSgov.

Sample Tweets

● A church is fighting NAME's deportation by offering #Sanctuary. Add your name in solidarity LINK TO

PETITION

● Tell @DHSgov & @BarackObama to #WeStandWithRosa Add your name in solidarity → LINK TO PETITION

#Sanctuary #Not1More

● Churches offer #refuge for Central Americans facing U.S. deportation http://reut.rs/1m9UTgo via @Reuters

#not1more

● .@UPCTempe Church Grants #Sanctuary to Immigrant Facing Deportation

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/2014/09/tempe_church_grants_sanctuary_to_immigrant_facin

g_deportation.php #not1more

● ICYMI: On Christmas day faith leaders around the US reiterate their offer of Sanctuary to those hunted in ICE

raids. http://buff.ly/1QWHu80

(the initial period “.” is important when is in the beginning of the tweet)

Sample FaceBook Posts

● A church is fighting NAME's deportation by offering #Sanctuary. Add your name in solidarity LINK TO

PETITION

● Tell Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson and President Barack Obama to let ____ Stay! Add your name in

solidarity → LINK TO PETITION #Sanctuary #Not1More

● Churches open their doors on Christmas to #immigrants seeking refuge #not1more deportation

http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/12/26/3735048/churches-open-doors-to-immigrants/